PRAYERS TO SHIVA
“Bhujgendrahaaram,” said Suta loudly. “The one who wears snakes as garlands. Damrudhaaram—The One who rattles an hourglass drum to time all of life.” Then changing his tone to a musical note, he continued, “Nataraja Dum Dum—The one who dances in rhythm with the drum-beat created by Himself, as though to set a pace for us. Trinetra Devam—The Three-Eyed One, who is the most powerful. Yogi Dhyaanam—yet, unassuming like a recluse ascetic in the forest. Jai Shiva Trinetra Trisuldhaaram!” resounded Suta.
“Hail Shiva, the Three-Eyed One who wields in turn, the
three-pronged spear” repeated Shaunaka.
“So you see, my child, a prayer to Shiva, was the description of Shiva, repeated to Him.”
Shaunaka found to his surprise that his own hands had folded into a position of worship, into salute of Namaste.
“With the passage of time, these prayers of attribute became longer and more speculative...and somehow, fear showed a greater propensity to grow, than love,” Suta continued. “So, while He was accredited with dance, it was a dance of death; while He lived on the mountains, it was a hidden abode of a Warlord; if He was strong, it was a strength you must be defeated by, always.
Not to forget, that He was The Lord of the cremation grounds where, at the end of one’s life, His portals only just began.”
“I am beginning to understand, Gurudeva.”
“Ultimately, that Shiva was the God of destruction, became a label that found itself stuck in the majority of minds."
“So then, Shiva began to be known as the Destroyer; I understand,” said Shaunaka sadly.
“Hmm… Yes, but there were other, less opinionated and therefore more open-minded seers, who, after a great deal of research and meditation, comparison of notes and deliberation, declared simply, ‘only Shiva knows what He is, really’, thus affording Him the opportunity to express His own truth and pass it on, from time to time,”
“Those, to whom these revelations came, were completely transformed,” Suta continued. “They became confident and trusting of life, shifting to a mode bubbling with high self-esteem. They were always at ease and seemed to know their place in the plan of things. Not that these seers lived in a different time or place, or were exposed to a different reality: The same things that some thought were ominous, these few saw clearly, as the play of life.
“The transformed seers spoke of Shiva in endearing terms, adding yet another epithet to His mentions. ‘Verily, He is all. He is Shiva Nataraja, Lord of the cosmic dance! ’ ” replied Suta.
“Hail Shiva, the Three-Eyed One who wields in turn, the
three-pronged spear” repeated Shaunaka.
“So you see, my child, a prayer to Shiva, was the description of Shiva, repeated to Him.”
Shaunaka found to his surprise that his own hands had folded into a position of worship, into salute of Namaste.
“With the passage of time, these prayers of attribute became longer and more speculative...and somehow, fear showed a greater propensity to grow, than love,” Suta continued. “So, while He was accredited with dance, it was a dance of death; while He lived on the mountains, it was a hidden abode of a Warlord; if He was strong, it was a strength you must be defeated by, always.
Not to forget, that He was The Lord of the cremation grounds where, at the end of one’s life, His portals only just began.”
“I am beginning to understand, Gurudeva.”
“Ultimately, that Shiva was the God of destruction, became a label that found itself stuck in the majority of minds."
“So then, Shiva began to be known as the Destroyer; I understand,” said Shaunaka sadly.
“Hmm… Yes, but there were other, less opinionated and therefore more open-minded seers, who, after a great deal of research and meditation, comparison of notes and deliberation, declared simply, ‘only Shiva knows what He is, really’, thus affording Him the opportunity to express His own truth and pass it on, from time to time,”
“Those, to whom these revelations came, were completely transformed,” Suta continued. “They became confident and trusting of life, shifting to a mode bubbling with high self-esteem. They were always at ease and seemed to know their place in the plan of things. Not that these seers lived in a different time or place, or were exposed to a different reality: The same things that some thought were ominous, these few saw clearly, as the play of life.
“The transformed seers spoke of Shiva in endearing terms, adding yet another epithet to His mentions. ‘Verily, He is all. He is Shiva Nataraja, Lord of the cosmic dance! ’ ” replied Suta.
( From the book SHIVA, The Ultimate Time Traveller.)
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